At the Libraries: Books That Shaped America

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a comment!
***
Who went to ALA this year? Anaheim is a bit too far for me, but I'd love to hear some reports from folks who made it out there!
*
Time to covet a new consumer product -- the library storage bin!
*

Or you could covet this WHOLE HOUSE full of shelves!
*This list of 88 books that shaped America is pretty cool. Any you think are missing?
*
I can second this woman's experience as a librarian. There are a lot of creeps out there, indeed.
*
You know, this is just speculation, but I bet if you did a Venn diagram of librarians and people who watch Doctor Who, you would have a biiiiiiig intersection. This post, on librarians in Doctor Who episodes, is for those folks!
*
Sometimes it really is about who you know. To wit: the husband of E.L. James (of Fifty Shades of Grey infamy) has sold a book!

*

Start your weekend off early with this mashup -- it's The Lord of the Rings meets libraries.

*
Have we seen these carved books before? A reader sent them in (thanks, Abe!) and even if we have, they're surely worth a second look.
*
Here is a call for entries that I know will speak to many of you librarians out there: Send pictures of yourself with cats for a 2013 calendar! You know you love cats! And the non-librarians can buy the calendar!
***
Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend, guys. Drop me a line if you hear of great library or literary news, and I'll be sure to feature it here in an upcoming column!

Also on Mental Floss:

DID YOU KNOW? Marlon Brando hated memorizing lines so much that he posted cue cards everywhere to help him get through scenes.
He even asked for lines to be written on an actress's posterior. (That request was denied.)